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I’ve received the following media request - if you would like to get involved please email the journalist directly, she needs to hear from you in the next few days:
I am working on a piece for a national Sunday newspaper’s health section on the crisis in our maternity wards, as highlighted by the recent Healthcare Commission inquiry. There are several angles I want to investigate and need to hear from women who’ve experienced the worst of our maternity services - unhygienic conditions, lack of beds and midwives or being unable to understand staff, elusive obstetricians, feeling rushed through labour or forced towards intervention… I’d also like to hear from women who have investigated home births as a result of traumatic experiences - possibly with independent midwives. Or have they found it difficult to access independent midwives (or NHS midwives to come out to a home birth) - do they feel they are given little option but to give birth in hospital? Maybe you have resorted to freebirthing…
Depending on the case studies, the piece is intended to look at the ‘cascade of intervention’ that ‘medicalises’ natural childbirth and what will happen if we lose independent midwifery unless the Government takes action. It may also examine if women feel the bond with their child is disrupted by intervention and the impact this may have or if women feel traumatic experiences may have contributed to their PND.
If you wish to become involved in the feature - and please email me as soon as possible at joaniwalsh7@hotmail.com
Organised Mum Diaries and Planners are now available from THM - I’m a big fan of these products, and have used the diaries for several years now.
The Life Book has a number of very useful features including month to view and week to view pages, tear-off shopping lists, pages for budgeting, and three movable dividers. The Pocket Life Book fits easily in your bag or pocket to keep you organised on the move. New for 2009, the Family Life Book has all the great features of the Life Book, but has a useful grid layout which makes it easy to keep track of all your family’s schedule.
The only difficulty is deciding which diary to go for!
We also stock the Pregnancy Planner and Baby’s First Year, which make a lovely memento of what can be a hectic time in a woman’s life. They make a great baby gift, or why not treat yourself!
Prices start at just £6.99 for the Pocket Life Book, and you can save 10% on all Organised Mum products until 17th August, both in the THM Online store and at THM Newport.
I’ve just got back in from our local Blood Donor session, so I’m sitting down with a glass of squash to start rehydrating myself.
If you can do it, then donating blood is a great way to help others out - the thing is, none of us know whether we’ll need a blood transfusion at any time, and it doesn’t take too much time or effort to go along and donate blood (plus of course you still get the obligatory cup of tea and biscuit afterwards!).
The Blood service only holds a few days stock at any time, and if your blood group is O negative (the universal donor), then your pint is even more precious.
Not everyone can donate, of course, but if you are able to do so, donor sessions are held regularly - visit www.blood.org.uk to find out if you can donate and details of your local sessions.
Another grey rainy summer’s day in Shropshire - if you’re in search of something to lift your mood, then this request from the University of Plymouth may help:
Certain mental exercises have been shown to significantly improve people’s mood, and the researchers at Plymouth are investigating three: challenging negative thoughts, counting blessing and focusing what you have achieved.
The study is entirely Internet based so can be done from home, and in your own time. Volunteers will have to chance to try free self-help therapy for two weeks, all that is needed is to complete some questionnaires and let the researchers know how you feel after doing the mental exercises.
If you would like to take part visit:
You must be over 18 to participate in this study, and you are not permitted to take part in this study if you are currently on medication for a psychological condition.
Ellaroo Wraparound Baby Sling - The gorgeous Ellaroo Wrap comes in a range of beautiful colours, and can be used from birth until your child is around 35lbs. It’s always a popular sling, and this month you can save 10% until 31st July 2008.
Natalia Mother and Baby products - If you’re looking for natural toiletries to pamper your body during pregnancy or after birth, or to gently care for your baby’s skin, then the Natalia range will fit the bill perfectly. The range includes pre- and post-natal products as well as baby care, and there are a range of gift boxes which would make a lovely gift for someone going on maternity leave, or to say ‘Congratulations on the birth of your new baby’. You can save 10% on the whole range until 31st July 2008
Bamboo nappies - Bamboo fabric is silky-soft, highly absorbent and has anti-bacterial properties. This makes it ideal for nappies, and this month we’re taking 10% off the Motherease One-Size and Sandy’s Bamboo nappies until 31st July 2008 - see the Cloth Nappies section for more details
Lavera Sunscreens - Our introductory offer on Lavera sunscreens is still running until 15th July 2008. These sunscreens are vegan and use natural sunscreens, and come in a range of SPFs to suit the whole family.
New Products
The Calin Bleu Cool Wrap gauze sling is now in stock in Olive, as well as the Natural and Teal Blue colours. All colours are currently available in both the Medium (4.6m) and Large (5m) sizes.
Keep checking back as we’ll have some more new products available in the next couple of weeks.There are still a few customer return and end-of-line slings available, so keep an eye on the Bargains section for some great deals. We’ll be adding some more bargains in the next week.
